Falling Stars

Posted 5 June 2010:

Meteor: The Last Airbender Fan

It's kind of like Hikaru no Go all over again.

Five years after everyone else has already discovered the series--

after they have laughed, cried, and cheered their way through it--

after they have packed away their Go boards with fond farewells--

I'm running in, waving my arms, shouting, "Guys! Guys! Guess what--!"

---

This is one that's stood the test of time.

I loved it all the way to the awesome finale. I finished The Legend of Korra more recently, and it was satisfying and worthwhile. For both series, I've read some of the sequel comics, and plan to check out more.

I'm glad to see the resurgence of interest now that it's on Netflix. I'm glad to see a new generation of kids get to discover it.

It's kind of like Hikaru no Go all over again.

Five years after everyone else has already discovered the series--

after they have laughed, cried, and cheered their way through it--

after they have packed away their Go boards with fond farewells--

I'm running in, waving my arms, shouting, "Guys! Guys! Guess what--!"

So, um, yeah. I've been watching my way through Avatar: The Last Airbender, after some initial delays (Sister: "I've looked and looked, but the only episodes I can find are the English dubs!" Me: "Uh, so I didn't mention it's an American show?" Sister: "...").

And wow. Guys! It is even better than I had expected, even after all your rave reviews.

I went in knowing three things:

1. Asian fantasy world! With actual Asians!

2. Big story arc!

3. Everyone loves it!

(Well, and the fourth thing, which is that the upcoming movie has been shamefully whitewashed by Hollywood.)

Now I can add: complex characters, great relationships, solid stories, moral dilemmas, and witty humour. Animation so fluid and backgrounds so lovely you can *see* the time and money poured into them. Elemental bending that is real martial arts. Flying bison and platypus bears and other bizarre and wonderful creatures.

If I had watched this when I was a kid, it would have been my Mysterious Cities of Gold and Monkey Magic and Dungeons and Dragons all rolled into one. And that Season 1 finale, man, as dramatic and satisfying as any I've ever seen, east or west, kid or adult, with a fantastic part one not let down by part two but instead paying off to the max. And then Season 2 getting darker and more intense, until I'm thinking, "Whoa, they did *that* in a kid's show?" And now Season 3, which is sadly close to the end of the journey, but still an fantastic journey, so damn well put together, and so much fun to watch.